I finally have some nice plants growing, they are about a foot high, loose leaved.
What can I expect, when can I taste them and any tips for overwintering
Actually what do they look like as mature plants, does anyone have a picture.
XX Jeannine
I have only had mine for a year... :-\
Jeannine..I'll go and take some photos of mine later on so you can see. What sort of Daubenton have you got now?
Out of my 3 different sort the Taunton Dean is the most robust grower and it is altogether different kale..more tougher and definitely a cooking kale. Two other I have..variegated one I like better eating raw, choosing the younger more tender leaves. I tried to cook it but it just wasn't very nice and turned quite bitter...but used as salad kale it is nice.
The third one...plain green leaf sort..well..judgement is still out with that. It was latest addition to my collection and I haven't done proper trial yet. It is the only one that got pigeons interest.. ::)..so I had to give it temporary shelter, but now that is bigger it has been left alone...can't say about the hight as it is still growing and recovering from the pigeons. I might have a taste test today for you.. ;D
Taunton Dean Cottages kale..purple sort of daubenton has grown now about 4 ft tall and it don't seem to be stopping yet. I've had to stake it as it is quite beast and the leaves weigh a lot and it would topple over otherwise. I stripped it lower stems back to a bare 'trunk' only a couple of weeks ago, but it is already starting to sprout new stuff.
Variegated don't grow as tall, about 21/2 -3 ft..but seem to get more and more bushier as it gets older...so again..that had same 'stripping' treatment.
As for over wintering..I just left mine to it...didn't do anything specific to them. I gave them light sprinkling of lime to keep soil 'right' and keep feeding and mulching every now and then and they seem to appreciate it with quick plentiful growth. As they are perennials they will need it.
OH..and take some leaves to eat as soon as you think they are big enough for it they will make more.. ;D
BTW...none of the daubentons seem to attract much white fly like other brassicas..purple one had odd few and variegated hardly any!!! ;D
Photos to follow later on...
Right..photos taken and taste test for the green daubenton done..I just had hearty breakkie as kale and eggs on toast..(burb) ;D
I can reveal that the green is fine to use as cooked as well as 'salad' leaves. It is not as nice fresh as the variegated.
I only just wilted the leaves in boiling water so no real cooking as such...but it didn't go bitter..just nice.. ;D
Photos then..
[attachment=1]..variegated
[attachment=2]..Taunton Deane Cottages Kale and on the backround there is the young 'green' daubenton.
The 'green' daubenton..
[attachment=1]
I was looking quite sorry for itself for while ago but it is now putting new growth on.. ;D
BTW...if you look at the variegated one..where the lower branches touch the ground..they will readily root and produce new plants.. ::)
That one started as just one single little 6" tall plant last year..and now I've already taken several BIG limbs out if..bared its 'trunk' and there is still some to dig out if needed... ::)
I don't think its ever going to be eaten down to ground by me... :-X
Where do I buy Daubenton seeds?
Duke
Quote from: Duke Ellington on June 06, 2012, 09:51:42
Where do I buy Daubenton seeds?
Duke
Now that is a problem..
Daubenton kale is grown from cuttings as it is quite rare that is flowers or even produce seeds. HSL has some daubenton seeds but I haven't tried those so I can't say what their plants are like.
I'll send you a PM... ;)
I've got the Daubenton's seeds growing, but they're far too small to taste yet! AQpparently they suddenly flowered three years after they got the plants. My variegated has just flowered after one year, but there were only a few flowers, and it was right next to flowering Ragged Jack so it'll be a hybrid if it does produce viable seed.
Variegated is the only one I've used, but we never cook our veg separately. It's fine in curry!
Mine looked like a straggly bush about 3ft high with lots of smallish kale leaves on it. I admit that the ones I got sent over from France were a bit compromised to start with as they had all bent in a U shape in the post and grew kind of sideways. I expect a good healthily started plant could be a bit taller and less roaming in nature.
I found that I could harvest quite a few leaves without damaging the plant. Picking just encouraged growth in the spaces I created. If it looks about the size of a normal kale plant I reckon you can get in there and start taking some from each branch which should be enough for a dinner.
I have decided to stop with the Daubentons now as I also have Taunton Deane which I much prefer as it is less bitter, has bigger and more succulent leaves and the plant seems to be much larger proportioned over all.
Cheers
Squeezy
Is this like Tuscan Black Kale only bettter?
Thank you all for the super info and woinderful pictures.
Some of you already know I was on a quest for Daubenton last year, and did indeed receive two lots of cuttings from a very sweet poster(you can identify yourself if you wish I am trying to be discreet ;D) Sadly I lost them, I think becuase it was the time of year rather than the posting and I was gutted.
Then I bought potted plants from France, of course they would not ship to Canada but they sent them to my son in Holland who forwaeded them on, needless to say they were delayed in a mail strike and arrived here very bent and twisted and blanched, They did grow however and we did get them in the plot but I think they were frail and didn't make it over the winter.
This year I got seeds from HSL and they are doing wonderfully, they are on the plot and growing like mad. They are in a raised bed so am hoping they will be good over the winter .
They are all green.
I am very jealous of your Taunton Deane which I was unable to find. I rememeber with the French ones, all the leaves had fallen off when they arrived but where the leaves had been they sprouted like mad even though the stems were weak and blanched white.
So I will leave them be and let them get on with their growth for now.I may grab a leaf of each plant a bit later to do a taste test. They have a whole bed to themselves about 15 plants so I am hoping somebody takes hold strong enough to overwinter.
Thanks for the help, I feel much more confident now.
XX Jeannine
I'd suggest that next time you start with cuttings taken as early as possible, so they get really well established before winter. I'm only delaying because my plants got pigeoned, and they don't have any long shoots yet.
Yes I think you are right. They were put out in quite cold weather finally and I they were quite soft.
XX Jeannine